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Teachers Back to Contract Talks This Weekend

By 250 News

Education Minister Shirley Bond with student (opinion250 file photo)

The negotiating team for the BC Teachers Federation and the BCPSEA will return to bargaining Sunday for the first of three days of discussions. Both sides have agreed to bring their salary proposals to the table at that time. 

Education Minister Shirley Bond is optimistic a settlement will be reached by the end of June “There are some who say we haven’t made progress” says Bond, “The fact we are talking is progress”.

“There are two bargaining tables” says Bond, who points out, one will determine the financial package, the other is the Round Table on Education where classroom issues will be discussed. 

Bond is well aware of the negotiating challenges. “There is no question there is a pretty negative history, not only with this government” she says, but hopes the Ready recommendations will help everyone move forward.

The short term recommendations called for a facilitator/mediator (Ms Irene Holden) to be at the bargaining table “That’s already been done” says Bond, who welcomes the recommendations as a positive step towards reaching a new contract.

Here is the balance of recommendations:
-BCPSEA and BCTF appoint a bargaining committee with a maximum of five representatives each
-For the purposes of conveying the government’s position on mandates and policy issues related to labour relations, government appoint a senior representative to act on its behalf

And here is the recommended timeline:

-BCPSEA, in conjunction with the government representative, shall prepare a serious settlement offer by May 15, 2006.
- If a settlement is not reached by June 1, 2006, the mediator will issue a report to the Minister and the parties outlining the issues resolved and in dispute. If requested, the Commissioner Ready or another third party may become involved
to provide further assistance in settling matters.
- The parties have the right to strike or lockout under the provisions of the Labour Relations Code. 



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